EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally consciou

Anchors this week: Kristina Wiltsee and Dan Young.
This week’s news stories were written by Linda Greene and Norm Holy. This week’s feature was engineered by Dan Young. This week’s calendar was compiled by Dan Young.
Our broadcast engineer is Dan Withered. Producers for EcoReport are Kelly Miller, Stephanie Stewart, and Dan Young. Executive producer is Alycin Bektesh.

Hosts Doug Storm and Trish Kerle’ explore some of the nuances, complexities and limitations of marriage for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community – the LGBT community – from a decidedly left of center – some might even say, radical – political and cultural perspective. This is not an anti-marriage or anti-marriage equality show. It is, however, our attempt to underscore that marriage may not be an obvious or clear-cut decision for all same-gender couples.

Since the overturning of the Defense of Marriage Act (otherwise known as DOMA or Windsor vs. the United States) in June 2013, there have been dozens of victories for the freedom to marry, with many of those rulings on hold pending appeal. As of today, 19 U.S. states and the District of Columbia have legalized marriage for lesbian and gay couples.

In Indiana, same-sex couples were getting legally married for three days in June 2014 (when the ban on marriage was overturned), until the state was granted a stay of that decision. Then, on August 26, 2014, cases from IN and WI were presented to a panel of three federal judges with the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. It’s uncertain when a ruling by that panel will be announced, but many legal experts expect the U.S. Supreme Court will settle the issue of marriage equality once and for all in the coming session.

Guests:

Byron Craig holds two degrees from Indiana University – a master’s degree in African American and African Diaspora Studies and a PhD in Communications and Culture. His research explores the intersections of race, gender and class and he is a faculty lecturer with the Kelley School of Business at IU.

Colin Johnson is Associate Professor of Gender Studies and Adjunct Associate Professor of American Studies, History and Human Biology at Indiana University in Bloomington, where he teaches courses on LGBT studies and the history of gender and sexuality in the United States.

PART ONE
On today’s show, William and Clarence welcome Paul Norris, a graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy and former Police Chief at IUPUI, the University of Virginia and Indiana University Bloomington.

Officer Norris share’s his perspective on how the Ferguson police chief might have handled the initial police department intervention differently in the days following the police-action shooting and, going forward, how might that police force rebuild community trust in the wake of the unfolding events in Ferguson.

PART TWO
Headline news and local calendar events of interest to the African-American community.

Despite not conforming to the regulations of Bloomington’s Taxi Ordinance, popular rideshare Uber announced it’s expansion to Bloomington this morning.
WFHB News Director Alycin Bektesh has the report.

5:09pm UPDATE
In response to an interview request regarding the cease and desist notice from the City of Bloomington, WFHB News received the following e mail
“Uber has been providing residents of Indiana with safe, affordable and reliable transportation options for over a year. We’ve already received overwhelming demand and support from residents and visitors of Bloomington eager for access to expanded transportation choices. We look forward to continuing to work with officials in Bloomington to find a permanent home for ridesharing in the city.”

In today’s EcoReport feature, Bob Madden, manager of the Lake Lemon Conservancy, tells us how the lake has become a successful conservation story.

EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

On Friday May 2nd Dr. David Lordkipanidze gave a presentation on some recent discoveries in the field pre-human history and bio-anthropology. The speaker takes us to Dminisi in the Republic of Georgia to the earliest hominid settlement outside of Africa. This site has been a treasure trove for anthro-biologists not just because it shows the behavior of its pre-human denizens, but because it sheds light on the co-evolution of the human species and the technology they developed. The primary speaker is Dr. Lordkipanidze the Director of the Georgian National Museum in the Republic of Georgia. This lecture is sponsored by The Stone Age Institute’s Program in Human Evolution and recorded on location at Whittenberger Auditorium for Standing Room Only, on WFHB.

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) is exploring a new way of distributing specialty crops in response to increased consumer demand; Hoosier Energy, located here in Bloomington, has entered into an agreement to purchase approximately 74,000 megawatt-hours annually of wind-power from Rail Splitter Wind Farm in central Illinois; Indiana Department of Transportation will have a public hearing on September 3rd for proposed reconstruction of State Road 46 through Spencer; On Monday Senator Joe Donnelly sent a letter to President Obama asking him to take quick action to stop American companies from relocating business in other countries for the sole purpose of avoiding taxes; Though City council voted in favor of hiring sharpshooters to kill deer at Griffy Lake Nature preserve beginning this fall, local community group Bloomington Advocates for Non Violent Innovative Deer Stewardship are still working to inform the public about alternative tactics; Even Bloomington’s utilities department has been forced to help make way for Interstate 69.

FEATURE
Monroe County Sheriff James Kennedy joined host Doug Storm on WFHB’s Interchange last night to talk about the “militarization” of police across the country, as well as here in Monroe County – a portion of their conversation here, in today’s community report.

CREDITS
Anchors: Kelly Wherley, Cathi Norton
Today’s headlines were written by Susan Northleaf
Along with Joe Crawford for CATSweek, in partnership with Community Access Television services.
Bloomington Beware was produced by Richard Fish,
Our feature was produced by Doug Storm
Our engineer today is Jim Lang,
Our theme music is provided by the Impossible Shapes.
Managing Producer is Joe Crafword
Executive Producer is Alycin Bektesh.

The Majority of the Monroe County Public Library Board of Trustees meeting on August 20th involved Financial Officer Gary Lettelleir speaking about next year’s library budget;The Monroe County Planning Department wants more money for staff; The Bloomington campus of Indiana University will continue and make permanent a bike lending program for students, faculty and staff; Indiana University has unveiled a broad plan to address the issue of sexual violence on campus.

FEATURE
Last Night were joined by William Vance, president of the Monroe County branch of the NAACP, and former Bloomington Police Department officers Jim Mitchell and Reverend Donald Griffin Sr. The group critiqued the effectiveness of the NAACP’s recommendations for citizens who are interacting with law enforcement, and their relevance to recent police action shootings in Missouri. A portion of their conversation here, for today’s community report.

CREDITS
Anchors: Casey Kuhn, Chris Martin
Today’s headlines were written by David Murphy
Along with Joe Crawford for CATSweek, a partnership with Community Access Television Services.Our feature was produced by Alycin Bektesh, courtesy of Bring it On!
Our engineer today is Carissa Barrett
Our theme music is provided by the Impossible Shapes.
Managing Producer is Joe Crawford
Executive Producer is Alycin Bektesh.